Cholanthrene

/ˈkoʊlænθriːn/ noun

Definition

A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derived from cholane; a carcinogenic chemical compound.

Etymology

From 'chol-' (from cholane) + 'anthren-' (from anthracene, a three-ring aromatic hydrocarbon). The compound was synthesized by adding an anthracene ring system to a cholane skeleton.

Kelly Says

Cholanthrene was one of the first synthetic chemicals proven to cause cancer—chemists literally created a carcinogen by accident when combining molecular building blocks, showing how dangerous chemical experimentation can be without understanding toxicity.

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